U.S. patent number 9,204,300 [Application Number 13/901,094] was granted by the patent office on 2015-12-01 for method for providing sim profile in euicc environment and devices therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to KT Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is KT CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Joo Young Kim, Kwan Lae Kim, Hyung Jin Lee, Jin Hyoung Lee, Chul Hyun Park.
United States Patent |
9,204,300 |
Park , et al. |
December 1, 2015 |
Method for providing SIM profile in eUICC environment and devices
therefor
Abstract
There are provided a method of providing a SIM profile, and an
eUICC device. The method of providing the SIM profile includes
downloading a SIM profile application selected by a user who uses
the eUICC device from an app store, executing and installing the
SIM profile application in the eUICC device, accessing of the eUICC
device having the SIM profile application installed therein to an
operator server, and authenticating the eUICC device based on SIM
profile information corresponding to the SIM profile application.
The eUICC device includes a network connection unit configured to
access the app store via a local network, a SIM profile storage
configured to store the SIM profile application, and an
authentication requesting unit configured to access the operator
server based on the SIM profile information.
Inventors: |
Park; Chul Hyun (Seoul,
KR), Kim; Kwan Lae (Seoul, KR), Kim; Joo
Young (Seoul, KR), Lee; Jin Hyoung (Seoul,
KR), Lee; Hyung Jin (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KT CORPORATION |
Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
KT Corporation (Seongnam-si,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
49981205 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/901,094 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20140031012 A1 |
Jan 30, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 24, 2012 [KR] |
|
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10-2012-0055602 |
May 22, 2013 [KR] |
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10-2013-0057638 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
12/06 (20130101); H04W 12/35 (20210101); H04L
63/102 (20130101); H04W 8/183 (20130101); H04W
8/205 (20130101); H04L 63/0853 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
3/16 (20060101); H04W 8/18 (20090101); H04W
12/06 (20090101); H04L 29/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/411,410,418 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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20100095268 |
|
Oct 1993 |
|
KR |
|
10-2009-0019879 |
|
Feb 2009 |
|
KR |
|
1020130008666 |
|
Jan 2013 |
|
KR |
|
Primary Examiner: Siddiqui; Kashif
Assistant Examiner: Tran; Mong-Thuy
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of providing a subscriber identification module (SIM)
profile to an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC)
device, comprising: downloading a SIM profile application selected
by a user who uses the eUICC device from an app store; executing
the SIM profile application in the eUICC device and installing the
application in the eUICC device; and accessing of the eUICC device
having the SIM profile application installed therein to an operator
server, and authenticating the eUICC device based on SIM profile
information corresponding to the SIM profile application, wherein
in the executing of the SIM profile application in the eUICC device
and installing of the application in the eUICC device, an initial
SIM profile is replaced with the selected SIM profile when the
downloaded SIM profile application is executed, wherein the initial
SIM profile includes access information of the app store and is
included in the eUICC device, the initial SIM profile being an
existing SIM profile when the eUICC device is released, and wherein
the app store and the operator server are separate entities.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the downloading of the SIM
profile application selected by the user who uses the eUICC device
from the app store, user unique identification information is used
to access the app store via a local network.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the downloading of the SIM
profile application selected by the user who uses the eUICC device
from the app store, a user interface (UI) or user experience (UX)
provided by the app store is used.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein in the downloading of the SIM
profile application selected by the user who uses the eUICC device
from the app store, the operator information is provided and at
least one operator SIM profile application is listed using a
category item of the app store.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising distributing, by the
operator server, the SIM profile application in a form of an
application to the app store.
6. An embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) device,
comprising: a network connection unit configured to access an app
store via a local network; a subscriber identification module (SIM)
profile storage configured to store a SIM profile application that
is downloaded by accessing the app store through the network
connection unit; and an authentication requesting unit configured
to access an operator server based on SIM profile information,
wherein the SIM profile storage previously stores an initial SIM
profile including access information of the app store, the initial
SIM profile being an existing SIM profile when the eUICC device is
released.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the network connection unit
accesses the app store via the local network using user unique
identification information.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein in the SIM profile storage, the
initial SIM profile is replaced with the SIM profile and is
installed when the downloaded SIM profile application is
executed.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the authentication requesting
unit requests authentication of the eUICC device by accessing the
operator server based on the replaced SIM profile information.
10. An operator server, comprising: a subscriber identification
module (SIM) profile distributor configured to distribute a SIM
profile application to an app store; and a user authentication unit
configured to perform authentication procedures in response to an
access and authentication request of an embedded universal
integrated circuit card (eUICC) device in which a SIM profile
application provided by the app store is downloaded and installed,
wherein the eUICC device includes an initial SIM profile which
includes access information of the app store, the initial SIM
profile being an existing SIM profile when the eUICC device is
released.
11. The operator server of claim 10, wherein the SIM profile
distributor uploads the SIM profile application to the app store
using a user interface (UI) provided by the app store.
12. The operator server of claim 10, wherein the user
authentication unit performs the authentication procedures based on
personal information associated with authentication and operator
information included in a SIM profile of the eUICC device.
Description
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.
10-2012-0055602 filed on May 24, 2012, and No. 10-2013-0057638
filed on May 22, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office
(KIPO), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an embedded
universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) environment, and more
specifically, to technology for providing a subscriber
identification module (SIM) profile to an eUICC.
2. Related Art
A universal integrated circuit card (UICC) is a smart card that is
inserted into a terminal and used as a module for user
authentication of a mobile communication network to which a user
subscribes. The UICC may store a user's personal information (for
example, short message service (SMS) files and a phonebook), and
information on a mobile network operator (MNO) to which the user
subscribes (for example, an international mobile subscriber
identity (IMSI) and a home public land mobile network (HPLMN)).
The UICC is called a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in a
global system for mobile communications (GSM) method, and a
universal subscriber identity module (USIM) card in a wideband code
division multiple access (WCDMA) method.
When the user installs the UICC in the user's terminal, user
authentication is automatically performed using information stored
in the UICC, so that the user can conveniently use the terminal.
Moreover, when the user replaces the terminal, the user may detach
the UICC from an old terminal and install it in a new terminal, to
easily replace the old terminal.
By installing the UICC of a desired mobile network operator, it is
possible to easily change the mobile network operator and use the
terminal.
That is, in an existing UICC environment, a prepared SIM profile is
embedded in a separate card according to requirements of the mobile
network operator (MNO), and the card is distributed separately from
the terminal. In order to subscribe to services of a specific
mobile network operator, the user purchases a terminal and a UICC,
inserts the UICC into the terminal, activates the terminal
according to activation procedures set by the operator, and then
uses the terminal.
It is difficult to downsize a terminal which requires a compact
size, for example, a terminal for machine-to-machine (M2M)
communication, when the terminal is manufactured to have a
detachable UICC. Therefore, an embedded universal integrated
circuit card (hereinafter referred to as an "eUICC") structure that
is a non-detachable UICC has been proposed. In the eUICC,
information on user who uses a corresponding UICC needs to be
included in a form of an international mobile station identity
(IMSI).
In an embedded UICC, which is integrally installed in the terminal,
the eUICC is built into the terminal when the terminal is
manufactured and released, unlike the existing detachable UICC. Due
to its non-detachable physical structure, it is difficult to change
the MNO by detaching the eUICC.
An eUICC device having the UICC embedded in the terminal when the
device is released needs to manage SIM profile information remotely
due to its non-separable physical characteristics of the UICC from
the terminal. Therefore, a subscription manager or a profile
manager to manage subscriber information has being discussed.
Direct communication between terminals (hereinafter, use together
with device to device (D2D) communication) refers to a
communication method of performing direct data transmission and
reception between two adjacent terminals without passing a base
station. That is, two terminals perform communication such that
each terminal serves as a source and a destination of data.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, example embodiments of the present invention are
provided to substantially obviate one or more problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method of
distributing a SIM profile application using an online application
store (hereinafter referred to as an app store or App. Store) in an
eUICC environment and accessing an operator network for an initial
activation using the distributed SIM profile application.
Example embodiments of the present invention also provide an eUICC
device that can access the app store via a local network, download
the SIM profile application, and access an operator server based on
SIM profile information.
Example embodiments of the present invention also provide the
operator server that can distribute the SIM profile application to
the app store and perform authentication procedures in response to
an authentication request and access of the eUICC device.
In some example embodiments, a method of providing a SIM profile
includes downloading a SIM profile application selected by a user
who uses the eUICC device from an app store, executing the SIM
profile application in the eUICC device and installing the
application in the eUICC device, and accessing of the eUICC device
having the SIM profile application installed therein to an operator
server, and authenticating the eUICC device based on SIM profile
information corresponding to the SIM profile application.
The method of providing the SIM profile may further include
distributing, by the operator server, the SIM profile application
to the app store in a form of an application.
In the downloading of the SIM profile application selected by the
user who uses the eUICC device from the app store, user unique
identification information may be used to access the app store via
a local network.
In the downloading of the SIM profile application selected by the
user who uses the eUICC device from the app store, a UI or UX
provided by the app store may be used.
In the downloading of the SIM profile application selected by the
user who uses the eUICC device from the app store, the operator
information may be provided and at least one operator SIM profile
application may be listed using a category item of the app
store.
In the executing of the SIM profile application in the eUICC device
and installing the application in the eUICC device, an initial SIM
profile may be replaced by the selected SIM profile when the
downloaded SIM profile application is executed.
The initial SIM profile may include access information of the app
store and may be released being included in the eUICC device.
In other example embodiments, an eUICC device includes a network
connection unit configured to access an app store via a local
network, a SIM profile storage configured to store a SIM profile
application that is downloaded by accessing the app store through
the network connection unit, and an authentication requesting unit
configured to access an operator server based on SIM profile
information.
The network connection unit may access the app store via the local
network using user unique identification information.
The SIM profile storage may previously store an initial SIM profile
including the access information of the app store when the eUICC
device is released.
In the SIM profile storage, the initial SIM profile may be replaced
by the SIM profile and installed when the downloaded SIM profile
application is executed.
The authentication requesting unit may request authentication of
the eUICC device by accessing the operator server based on the
replaced SIM profile information.
In still other example embodiments, an operator server includes a
SIM profile distributor configured to distribute a SIM profile
application to an app store, and a user authentication unit
configured to perform authentication procedures in response to an
access and authentication request of an eUICC device in which a SIM
profile application provided by the app store is downloaded and
installed.
The SIM profile distributor may upload the SIM profile application
to the app store using a UI provided by the app store.
The user authentication unit may perform the authentication
procedures based on personal information associated with
authentication and operator information included in the SIM profile
of the user's eUICC device.
According to the method of providing the SIM profile of the present
invention, it is possible to distribute the SIM profile using the
app store that is operated in a variety of forms. Further, it is
possible to install the SIM profile using a user-friendly interface
such as an app installation. Moreover, in the app store, a history
of the used SIM profile per user is managed so that it is possible
to manage the history for a user management (advertisement sending,
operator recommendation, and plan recommendation).
When the eUICC device according to the present invention is used,
limitation of the non-detachable eUICC device may be overcome so
that it is possible for the user to activate a terminal regardless
of a mobile network operator even in a case of the eUICC.
Moreover, from a view of the operator and a terminal manufacturer,
it is helpful to solve product inventory problems and
price-increasing problems of the eUICC device.
Furthermore, when the operator server according to the present
invention is used, it is possible to update subscriber information
of many mobile network operators to the eUICC remotely.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Example embodiments of the present invention will become more
apparent by describing in detail example embodiments of the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of providing a
SIM profile and components according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a method of providing
the SIM profile of an app store according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of providing
the SIM profile and the components according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing the SIM
profile according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an eUICC device
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operator server
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
Accordingly, while the present invention is susceptible to various
modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof
are shown by way of examples in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there
is no intent to limit the present invention to the particular forms
disclosed, but on the contrary, the present invention is to cover
all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the
spirit and scope of the present invention. Like numbers refer to
like elements throughout the description of the figures.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.
may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements
should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to
distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element
could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element
could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope
of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and/or"
includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated
listed items.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being
"connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly
connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements
may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as
being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another
element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words
used to describe the relationship between elements should be
interpreted in a like fashion (i.e., "between" versus "directly
between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a,"
"an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes,"
and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of
stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or
components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or
more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
so defined herein.
First, terminology used in this application will be briefly
described below.
An app store is an abbreviated word of an application store and
refers to an online mobile content (software) market that can
freely buy and sell a mobile application (a content application
installed in a cellular phone, for example, a scheduler, an address
book, an alarm, a calculator, a game, a video, Internet access, a
music player, a navigator, Word, and Excel), and may be usually
regarded as an online application market that can be mounted on a
smartphone. The app store may include, for example, a Google's
Android app store, online app stores of mobile network operators,
and a wholesale app community (WAC) that is a kind of an app
wholesale market in which major carriers and manufactures
participate.
The terminology "operator" used in this application refers to a
mobile network operator (MNO).
Download and play means that digital content such as a video, a
sound source, and an application is downloaded to a computer and
the computer is able to recognize presence of the content.
Therefore, a user does not have to notify the computer of adding of
new content.
A subscriber identification module (SIM) refers to a subscriber
identification module, and is an essential element of a global
system for mobile communications (GSM) terminal. Usually, the SIM
may be implemented in a form of an integrated circuit (IC) card.
There is usually a slot in a back side of a terminal and this small
card is inserted into the slot. The SIM profile refers to a
specific group (set) of information parameter values included in
the SIM.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of providing
the SIM profile and components according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a SIM profile providing environment
according to the present invention may include an app store 300, an
initial SIM profile 121 having information for accessing the app
store, an eUICC device 100 having the profile 121 when the device
is released, a local network 400 that allows the eUICC device 100
to access the app store 300, each operator server 200, and a SIM
profile application 310 that includes user information and operator
access information distributed in a form of an application from
these servers 200 to the app store 300.
Procedures of providing the SIM profile according to the present
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
When the eUICC device 100 that has been released to have the
initial SIM profile 121 including access information of the app
store first boots, the device accesses the app store 300 via a
general access network, for example, the local network 400 such as
WiFi and a hotspot (A2). In this case, a user uses user unique
credentials, for example, an ID and a password, that can identify
the user. The user selects an operator 351 to be subscribed using a
user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) 350 that is provided by
the app store 300 and downloads the SIM profile application 310
distributed (A1) in a form of an application from the operator
(A3).
When the downloaded SIM profile application is executed, existing
initial SIM profile information is replaced with the SIM profile
information provided by the selected operator. After the replaced
SIM profile information is invoked using a method such as rebooting
and is activated, according to the operator information of the SIM
profile information and personal information necessary for
authentication, the device accesses the selected operator server
200 and performs activation procedures (A4).
SIM profile providing processes and components according to the
present invention will be described below again.
As an initial provisioning method that uses the app store 300,
there is provided a method that the operator distributes the SIM
profile including operator subscription information and user
information in a form of an application to the app store 300.
The method in which the initial SIM profile 121 having the access
information of the app store 300 is included when the eUICC device
100 is released is provided, and the method may include an
operation (A2) of accessing the app store 300 using the access
information of the app store 300.
Moreover, the method may include an operation that lists the SIM
profile applications 310 of the operator using a category item of
the app store 300, displays associated information, allows the user
to select, and securely downloads the SIM profile application 310
of the selected operator to the eUICC device 100 (A3). It is
possible to store the SIM profile application downloaded by
accessing the app store through the eUICC device in the eUICC
device.
It is possible to provide the method that securely replaces the
existing initial SIM profile 121 by automatically executing the SIM
profile application that is downloaded and stored (download and
play). In this case, it is possible to provide the method in which
the operator is securely replaced by an operator selected by the
user using a replaced SIM profile 122 and the device accesses the
selected operator server 200 (A4).
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing the SIM
profile according to the embodiment of the present invention. The
SIM profile providing process will be described step by step with
reference to FIG. 4.
The method of providing the SIM profile to the eUICC device 100 may
include an operation of downloading the SIM profile application 310
selected by the user who uses the eUICC device 100 from the app
store 300 (S430), an operation of executing and installing the SIM
profile application in the eUICC device 100 (S440), and operations
that the eUICC device having the SIM profile application installed
therein accesses the operator server and the eUICC device is
authenticated based on the SIM profile information corresponding to
the SIM profile application (S450 and S460).
Moreover, the method may further include an operation that the
operator server 200 distributes the SIM profile application 310 in
a form of an application to the app store 300 (S410).
In the operation of downloading the SIM profile application 310
from the app store 300 (S430), the eUICC device 100 having the
initial SIM profile 121 including the access information of the app
store 300 may be used. The app store 300 may include an online app
store of the mobile network operator and online app stores operated
by, for example, a cellular phone manufacturer, a content provider,
and an Internet service provider.
The initial SIM profile 121 may be installed in the eUICC device
100 in advance when the eUICC product is released. Further, the
initial SIM profile 121 may be a SIM profile with which previous
SIM profile information is replaced through downloading the SIM
profile application. That is, the user may continuously change a
desired mobile network operator through processes of downloading
and installing the SIM profile application 310 from the app
store.
When the eUICC device 100 first boots, it is possible to access the
app store 300 via a general access network, for example, the local
network 400 such as WiFi and a hotspot (A2). The user may access
the app store 300 using user unique identification information. The
user unique identification information may include, for example,
user unique credentials, such as an ID and a password that can
identify the user.
Since the app store 300 may be operated by the mobile network
operator, and a general business operator, for example, the
cellular phone manufacturer, the content provider, and the Internet
service provider, the user may select the operator 351 to be
subscribed using the UI or UX 350 provided by the operator of the
app store 300.
In the app store 300, at least one operator SIM profile application
310 may be listed. A category of the SIM profile applications 310
is listed using the category item of the app store 300, and each
SIM profile application 310 having the operator information
displayed thereon may be provided to the user.
In the operation of executing and installing the SIM profile
application 310 in the eUICC device 100, the initial SIM profile
information may be replaced with the selected SIM profile
information when the downloaded SIM profile application is
executed.
The initial SIM profile 121 includes the access information of the
app store 300 and may be released being included in the eUICC
device 100, or may be the SIM profile 122 with which the previous
SIM profile information is replaced through downloading and
installing the SIM profile application. That is, the user may
continuously change a desired mobile network operator through
processes of downloading and installing the SIM profile application
310 from the app store 300.
The method of providing SIM profile according to the present
invention will be summarized and described again.
The eUICC device 100 that is released to have the initial SIM
profile 121 of an operator 1 may be in operation activated by the
operator 1. The server 200 of an operator 2 may distribute the SIM
profile application 310 to the app store 300 before or after the
eUICC device 100 is activated by the operator 1 and operates.
The eUICC device 100 may access the app store 300 via the local
network 400 (S420). The eUICC device 100 may download the SIM
profile application 310 of the operator 2 selected in the app store
300 (S430).
When the eUICC device 100 executes, invokes, and activates the
installed SIM profile application of the operator 2, it is possible
to replace the previous SIM profile 121 information of the operator
1 with the SIM profile 122 information of the operator 2 and
install the replaced SIM profile 122 information (S440).
The eUICC device 100 uses the personal information necessary for
authentication and the operator information included in the
replaced SIM profile 122 information to request access and
authentication from the operator 2 server (S450). In response to
the request, the operator 2 server 200 may perform authentication
procedures (S460).
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the eUICC device 100
according to the embodiment of the present invention. The eUICC
device 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. 5.
The eUICC device 100 may include a network connection unit 110
configured to access the app store 300 via the local network 400, a
SIM profile storage 120 configured to store the SIM profile
application that is downloaded by accessing the app store through
the network connection unit, and an authentication requesting unit
130 configured to access the operator server 200 based on the SIM
profile information.
The network connection unit 110 may access the app store 300 using
the user unique identification information (A2). The user unique
identification information may use user unique credentials, for
example, an ID and a password that can identify the user.
The SIM profile storage 120 may previously store the initial SIM
profile 121 including the access information of the app store 300
when the eUICC device 100 is released. Moreover, it is possible to
download and store the SIM profile 310 selected by the user by
accessing the app store through the network connection unit. When
the downloaded SIM profile application is executed, it is possible
to replace previous initial SIM profile information with the SIM
profile information provided by the selected operator and install
the replaced SIM profile information.
In this case, when the replaced SIM profile information is invoked
and activated using a method of, for example, rebooting, the
authentication requesting unit 130 may access the selected operator
server 200 and perform activation procedures for requesting
authentication of the eUICC device according to the operator
information of the SIM profile 122 information and the personal
information necessary for authentication (A4).
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operator server
according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operator
server 200 will be described below with reference to FIG. 6.
The operator server 200 may include a SIM profile distributor 210
configured to distribute the SIM profile application 310 to the app
store 300, and a user authentication unit 220 configured to perform
authentication procedures in response to the access and
authentication request of the eUICC device in which the SIM profile
application provided by the app store is downloaded and
installed
The SIM profile distributor 210 may distribute the SIM profile
application 310 in a form of an application when the SIM profile
application 310 is distributed to the app store 300. Further, it is
possible to upload the SIM profile application 310 to the app store
using the UI provided by the app store 300. Therefore, the user may
select the distributed SIM profile application 310 directly using
the UI or UX of the app store 300 that is used by the user.
The user authentication unit 220 may perform the authentication
procedures based on the personal information necessary for
authentication and the operator information included in the SIM
profile of the user's eUICC device 100 (A4).
According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is
possible to distribute the SIM profile application 310 using app
stores of the operator that is operated in a variety of forms (A1),
and install the SIM profile application using a user-friendly
interface such as an app installation. In the app store 300, a
history of the used SIM profile application per user is managed so
that it is possible to manage the history for a user management
(advertisement sending, operator recommendation, and plan
recommendation).
While the present invention has been particularly described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those
of skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments should be
considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation. The scope of the present invention is defined not by
the detailed description of the present invention but by the
appended claims, and encompasses all modifications and equivalents
that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *